Boiling Waterphones and Other Sonic Inspirations from Composer Troels Folmann

[Audi01]

From the site:

Award-winning composer Troels Folmann has made a name as a video game composer on the likes of the Tomb Raider series, as well as espousing new ideas about adaptive music for games like his “micro-scoring” methodology. But speaking to a roomful of composers and sound designers at the recent Game Developer Conference, he turned to the topic of reinvention. Even having perfected signature sounds that keep him in demand on jobs like blockbuster feature trailer soundtracks, Troels challenged attendees to get out of their usual habits and comfort zones.

And that means torturing some instruments. No, really torturing them: breaking sticks, destroying drums, warping instruments, and boiling waterphones (putting the whole instrument on a stove).

Human beings, of course, shouldn’t be tortured – to get the best sound of them, you want to get them drunk. (I want the Drunken Eastern European Choir sample library, Troels!)

Speaking excitedly in run-on sentences that clipped one another – a bit like sample in and out points were set wrong – Troels revealed some of his latest sampling explorations and sonic secrets. It was, truly, one of the best talks I saw at GDC – and unquestionably the highest idea and inspiration – to – time ratio, even if you weren’t into sound. Here are some of the gems from that conversation, along with some of the lists of bizarrely-combined sampled instruments in recent compositions.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/0...comment-861607

[Cheesy]

great thanks

[theBadger]

I can see that it must be great fun creating Gigs of samples by torturing musical objects...


But is it any use?


Musically?

[Audi01]

Atmospherics is where I would see a lot of these samples being used...

[theBadger]

coincidentally i've had a listen to "Enuff Mixdown2" recently and had in mind that this track sounds nice for a game tune

I've thought may some experimenting with an 8 bit VSTi (e.g. some SID like sounds) for additional layers would be interesting

Oh Crikey! That old rubbish. Did I post that here? I must have been delirious on partially fermented elderberries at the time. It was an idea I was experimenting with. An arrangement more than a recording.

Recently, I heard a 'pop' cover version of this song whilst shopping. It was just as dreadful as mine. Sounded better of course but very boring arrangement. Lets see if we can find it....

...googling...

Ahh there it is...

Don't click here >>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vte4HUoRDSI <<<< Listen at your peril!

To me, the 'pussycaterdays*' version of this song sounds exactly like this:

Definitely Don't click here >>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgKDKyl-EKE<<<< You will need to wash your ears out with carbolic soap and an abrasive pad if you do! You have been warned.

But then, my version was much, much worse so who am I to complain.

Music is in the ear of the beholder I suppose.

An 8bit version? Go on SW do it! It would be better than either the badger's attempt or the 'saterdolls*' version.

tB.

*tB is very old and therefore cannot differentiate between the many girl bands that plague the planet. Pussycat Dolls, Saturdays, Girls Aloud - they all sound like a Spice Girls covers band to me.